Episode 1

I would be lying if I said watching someone sneak into my english lit. class was fun. Actually, it was quite the opposite. Because the last time I saw Julio Hernandez, he wasn't sneaking into college.

He was sweeping me off my feet.

Not that he got far. You see, there's one little fact I follow that keeps boys like him away from my life for good: I don't believe in love. I guess over the years me and it has had some pretty tough times.

Either it be from heartache to break ups, to boys cheating on me or them taking my trust, it just never worked out. I learned a long time ago to let the whole 'love and let live' thing fly out the window.

I was never one to fall head over heels for someone and if I did, it always ended in my heart being broken. That's not saying much though. I have been in and out of love so many time I can write a book on the subject.

It's something I have come to live with and no matter how many times in the past I was willing to give love and the bastards who stole my heart a second chance, it always ended in me getting hurt.

Broken.

Because that's what heartbreak is. It's when you give someone your heart and instead of caring and loving it like they are supposed to, they shatter it into a million devastatingly painful pieces. It rips you from the inside out.

That heat break becomes a breathing, living reminder of what truly loving another person can bring. That heartbreak becomes a part of you. Then, sooner or later, it becomes you.

So yeah, I'm bitter. More than bitter. The one and only time I ever saw Romeo and Juliet was in tenth grade and I ended up throwing my book at a kid when he said it was the best love story ever. He hated me ever since, claiming I knew nothing about love and I was going to die alone.

Please.

If that was the best love story ever written they should take a look at my life. I could out beat those two so called love birds anytime. Hear that Shakespeare?

Bring it.

I don't sit at home like I use too and think about guy's, wondering which one will be my prince charming. Truth is prince charming died along time ago when love decided to be the one thing my heart just couldn't hold up too.

Hey, I'm pretty enough. With my brown hair and brown eyes, I consider myself average, but that doesn't mean boy's approach me.

Over the years I have gotten the reputation for being the girl who would rip your **** off for just looking at her. I'm the girl who will look the other way the minute you try to give me a compliment. I don't need you to tell me sweet little nothings to persuade me otherwise.

I guess when your heart gets broken so many times from the other sex, you learn to never trust them again. You learn to stop wondering about things that are never going to happen. You stop hoping for the impossible. You stop being the hopeless.

I don't need someone by me to know who I am and honestly, girls who find love are just pathetic. Well some are. It all depends if you find the right kind of love. The right person to spend your happily ever after with.

I mean why would a girl ever become dependent on someone else? I would love to tell them to grow up and learn to become a person. I would love to tell them that they don't need love to find themselves.

But when the media sells us the idea that everyone needs love, people are willing to find it anywhere with anyone. Even if it is the wrong kind of love.

I guess I use to be one of those girls, but I have learned my lesson along the way. Sometimes it's better to know who you are then have some guy tell you who you were going to be. Trust me, guy's are not even on my mind at the moment.

Well, until Julio enters the room.

I was sitting there, my pencil lightly in my mouth, trying to listen to the lecture the professor was giving. He was going on and on about some dead English writer. Plus I suspected half the people in this class took it so they could get an easy A.

The guy was too gullible for his own good.

I was half way asleep when I saw the doors to the class open, revealing a small patch of light. I turned my head to the sound and when I saw a shadow in the light, hunched over and moving along the rows silently, I narrowed my eyes.

At first, I thought it was a flick of the lights.

Maybe I fell asleep halfway through the professors lecture.I could honestly believe it. But when I hear a soft curse spill through the silent room, I knew it wasn't a dream.

Everyone was so engrossed with the lesson, or sleeping, that they didn't even see the person waddling their way in, so quietly it was practically funny.

Which, even I had to admit, they were doing a pretty sneaky job. Seems whoever it was that decided to grace the class with only five minutes left knew what they were doing.

I dropped my pencil and watched the person come closer, my mind more on them then on the notes I'm supposed to be taking.

Seriously could they not make it on time?

I narrow my eyes more when I see the shadow lift their head and then come my way. I look over to the seat next to mine and notice that it was empty.

I cast my eyes to the old professor, who has his back turned, and I reach for my book bag and I sit it on the chair a little roughly, hoping whoever it was would get the point.

There was no way this person was going to sit next to me.

I mean, how irresponsible can someone be? They might as well have stayed back at their dorm and forgot about even showing up. It was typical more often than not with all the parties that were hosted every weekend.

What did they think they were going to accomplish in five minutes?

I gather up my papers on my desk and act like I was deep in the lecture. In reality it was the most boring thing I ever heard, but I needed the person to keep moving. I was not about to get even more distracted.

"Pstt." I flinch when I hear an annoying little sound in my ear. I don't respond, knowing it's the irresponsible student. Before I can even blink, the sound comes again, louder and even more annoying.

"Psssttttt ."

I jerk around, not able to ignore the persons hissing, and am met to a dark set of eyes. Disbelieving, my eyes travel to his black raven hair, to his tanned skin, and ending with the scattering of tattoos. At that moment, I have the undying need to actually curse.

"Well, well, well." He says softly, his eyes glowing in the darken room. Of course the professor just had to use the projector today. It just makes his already dark looks that much more exotic.

The guy in front of me straightens out, raising his arms over his head. I try not to notice his shirt riding up, exposing his abdomen. There, more and more tattoos spread out across his ribs and sides. It was like the guy was a walking advertisement to tattoos everywhere.

Of course it doesn't help that he was seriously nice to look at. He has the kind of hair girls would die to touch and guy's would envy to have. It was I don't care hair. It was I just rolled out of bed hair. Beautiful hair.

On top of all that, the week old subtle, the tanned skin, and shit-kicker motorcycle boots just added to his already roguish persona. He gave off the impression that if you looked at him the wrong way, he would have you on the ground faster than you could yell mercy.

"If it isn't Kelsey May's." His lips curved up on one side and memories of the last time I saw him come rushing back.

Memories I so did not want to reencounter.

Me in my dress and him in his mask. Him lightly holding my hips as we swayed to the music. His easy smile and the way my heart picked up. The feel of his fingers lightly tracing my side haunt me the same way his eyes were looking at me that night.

How they were looking through me.

I shake my head, getting rid of those silly thoughts.

I would not think about that.

"Go away." I spit out with necessary venom, trying to keep my voice down. I have no need to deal with him right now. I was already on my way to failing this class. No need for him to drag me down more.

Some girl in front of me looks over her shoulder, noticing the commotion, and when she she sees me and Julio, curiosity fills her face.

I shoot her a glare, telling her to mind her own business, and she turns in her seat fast. Usually I would be a little nicer, or not care, but Julio being here buts my nerves on high.

"Is this seat taken?" Julio's voice pulls me back to him and he looks to the seat next to mine and back up. I look at the seat too and fold my hands on the desk.

"Yes. "

I refuse to look at him. I hear something move and then his sweet little voice say.

"Good. "

I slide my gaze to him and I see him lift my book bag up and throw it to the ground. Rather hardly. I stare at the bag and back to him about five times. His eyes meet mine and he smirks as he takes the seat slowly.

Boy's who smirk always want to get in a girls skirt.

It's a motto I live by.

I reach for my book bag and I lift it up with two fingers and ****** the material in his face. He looks at the back with amusement and a light smile. Obviously the kid had no idea what yes meant.

"I said someone was sitting there." I shout louder than last time. He looks to me and raises his eyebrows the same time he brings a finger to his lips and shushes me.

"Shh Kelsey. I am trying to learn here."

My mouth threatens to drop. I lock my jaw and I decide to do something stupid. Who knew one boy could get under my skin so quickly? I lift up my book bag and I throw it at his head.

How the hell was he going to sit there and tell me to be quiet when not even a minute ago it was him who was sneaking through the door?

Julio must see it coming because he grabs my wrist and moves my hand out of the way. The book bag falls from my hand and lands on the ground with a loud thunk.

He looks to the bag slowly and then his eyes snake to mine. His face was full of that same amusement.

"If you wanted to hit me, you could have just asked. "

"Seriously?" I ask disgusted.

"Seriously."

He was making fun of me. Julio Hernandez was freaking laughing at me. I try to jerk my hand out of his grasp, but he doesn't let me. Instead, he pulls me closer.

"Let go!" I scream a little too loud and that's when I hear everything get quiet. I stop moving, my hand still in Julio's, and I turn my head to see the Professor looking straight where me and Julio are making a spectacle.

Well, he was more like glaring.

I guess not even the dead writer he was talking about could keep him from hearing the commotion Julio and I were causing in the back of the room. Go freaking figure.

"May's; Hernandez. This is not a playground. "

I jerk my hand out of Julio's and I almost fall out of my chair with the force of it. Julio pockets his hands non-chantilly and looks at the Professor with a blank face.

I get my bearings and point to the little troublemaker. "Sir, it wasn't me. It was him. " I look at Julio and he brings his hands up in an innocent gesture.

"Sir, I swear she grabbed my hand first. "

People all around start to break out in laughter and my cheeks flush. I hated when people take notice of me. I square my chin and look away from him, pride overtaking my embarrassment.

"As if. "

"Look at the way her cheeks are turning red Sir. She loves the attention and she can't wait to get more of it from me later. If you know what I mean." He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively and that makes the whole class burst out in laughter even more.

Oh, he was going to get hurt.

I turn to him and look him up and down, unamused. "Don't you have something better to do? Like, I don't know, make taco's or something? "

Julio leans toward me, so close I can feel his breath on the side of my face. It fans my hair a little and makes me wish I never said those words. It isn't right for me to bring up his heritage so publicly.

It wasn't like I had anything against his culture, it's the fact that he is the one bothering me that gets under my skin.

His eyes meet mine and I can't look away.

Even if I wanted too.

"Oh, I see. Already making culture jokes and you don't even know me yet?" He breaks out into a slow, devil may care smile and I jerk away from him. My cheeks heat up even more in the process.

"Class! Settle down. Mays; Hernandez, Out! " The professor's usually calm face is now red from anger and he points toward the doors angrily.

I shake my head and start to gather up my notes. Why should I be punished for what Julio did? It's not like I was the one who was sneaking into class. If anything I should get an award for actually showing up five minutes early every day.

I stuff my notes messily into my bag fast trying not to notice all the people that was staring at me. If I did, I would probably balk right here and now.

On the way out, I 'accidentally' hit Julio in the head with my full book bag. Maybe it will knock some sense into him. Or at least scare him away. A girl can hope.

When I open the door and exit out into the hallway, I hear someone slip through the door behind me, their footsteps echoing through the empty corridor. I know it's Julio but I refuse to turn around and acknowledge him.

How could I have been so stupid? I should have just let him mock me and acted like it didn't matter. I shouldn't have let him get to me so easily.

Usually boys don't notice or talk to me, so for Julio to just waltz in and act like I was the best thing, made me want to hit something.

Actually, it made me want to hit him.

I see him move out of the corner of my eye and I stop. If the problem was going to go away, that meant I had to address it head on. Sighing, I turn around and face him. There he stands, leaning against the closet wall, all smiles and good looks.

"That was fun. We should really do it again." I put a hand on my hip and give him the worst look I could ever give someone. The last time I gave someone such a look was when my father walked out on my sister and our mom.

"I don't like you. "

Four words I should have never of said.

He tugs on my bag as he took a confident step forward, forcing me back another step. I suddenly feel my bag slip off my shoulder,a satisfied smile spreading across his face. I have no idea how he got in front of me so fast, but there he was, his body hovering next to mine. I take a few steps back and my back hits a wall. I wondered if he could see how fast my heart was beating beneath my shirt.

He leans forward, bracing his hands on either side of my head. My heart beats fast, surprised at the sudden contact.

I feel him lean closer, his breath next to my ear. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to regain my thoughts. Why the hell was he so close to me? Not a minute ago I wanted to hit him in the face. Now? I don't even know.

I shouldn't be doing this. He shouldn't be affecting me like this. I feel his hand run through my hair and then his mouth lightly touches the spot behind my ear and I tense up, in a way that shows how much I want his hand to move. Then he says ever so softly :

"You'll see ángel, You're wrong. Every girl loves a bad boy."

I feel him move and when I finally get my senses together, I see him walking down the hallway, a walk of a jerk who knows that he has just gotten the best of me.

I grab my book bag angrily, ****** it on my shoulder, and I start to walk blindly down the hallway. I don't even bother to see if the prick was still in eyesight.

Every girl loves a bad boy.

Please, this isn't some cliche' romance. I'm not going to scumb to the little suggestions he was offering. Bad boys and nice girls belong in books and horribly made movies. Not in real life.

Julio didn't know anything.

Going to Michigan State was supposed to be my escape. I was going to get out of this place with the best grades and become the person I needed to be. I was finally going to make my life something worth making and no one was going to stop me.

Ever since Kayla decided to join me here, I knew I had to be the smart one. Where she was the wild and free one, I was the smart and practical one. My mother needed me to have more control over my actions. Guy's like Julio were trouble and made me react in ways I shouldn't.

This was Kayla's territory, not mine.

Maybe if he did that a year ago I would have fallen in his trap. I maybe would have given him a chance to show me why every girl falls for a badboy. Why every girl was willing to liver the fantasy Julio was selling Now?

Not a chance.

I push open the double doors that lead outside, when a yellow piece of paper comes flying through the Autumn air, distracting me from my earlier thoughts.

I reach my hand out and quickly grab it before the wind can take it. I immediately notice that the paper has been crumbled so many times that the writing is hard to read. I squint my eyes, trying to make out the cursive, when I finally comprehend a few words.

The Michigan State fall games for all students will be ongoing at the beginning of November. Games and booths full of fun will be set up for ...

I stop reading the stupid yellow flyer and crumble it up like so many other people did and throw it on the ground. Hopefully someone would find it and stuff it into a recycling can.

I watch it start to blow away in the wind, joining all the other debris around the campus, and I look up in time to see two people walking my way.

She has her hand in his, her nose pink from the autumn air. Blonde hair escapes her loose braid and the guy next to her watches the loose pieces with a slight smile. I stand there and watch as he brings her hands up to his mouth and starts to blow on them, trying to warm her up.

I know for a fact that this morning he tried to persuade her to wear mittens, but she was too stubborn to listen. It's just who she was. It's what he loved the most about her.

I smile a little and I start to head their way.

If there was one thing I was certain of, it was them. They had the real deal when it came to love. They were the happily ever after people could get behind.

I mean, it has to be something since they have been dating for a year and a half now. I know he loves her and she loves him.

I can tell by the way he moves his hand every time they are together to the side of her neck, where the vein connecting to her heart is, and lays his thumb on the perfect spot.

As if he wanted to always feel her heart beat for him.

I know she loves him by how she looks at him when he isn't looking. How she smiles so freely and so in love. How she always wanted to be near him, even if they are arguing over something stupid.

I know she's in love by the way she says his name.

Mia catches me walking toward her and she waves and smiles, blonde strands flying in her eyes . She drops her hand that Aiden was still blowing on and she tugs on his other one, dragging him behind her.

I watch them come and I think back to Julio. Why? I have no idea. If there was one guy I knew who could never fall in love, it would have to be him. I heard of his stories, ones Mia tells me, and I know I had stay away from him.

No, I needed to stay away.

"Kelsey, don't you have class?" Mia asks, moving her hands together to warm them. Even though it is only fall, in Michigan it's cold enough to warrant heavy jackets and sweats.

I see Aiden glance at her hands and frown a little. I know he wants to grab her hands and warm them again and I want to laugh a little.

How did it feel to have someone care for you that much? How did it feel to know that someone cared for you as much as you cared for them?

It must be something otherworldly.

I shake my head and jam my thumb behind me, back to the building where my Lit. class was. The one I just got kicked out of. All due to a guy who was beyond anyone's control.

"Aiden's little friend Julio got me kick out. " Mia seems to be amused by this and Aiden looks me over, apologetically. Even he was a lost cause it when came to dealing with Julio.

"Lio? Damnit. I knew when he started classes here something would end up bad. Do you want me to have a talk with him?"

I bite my lip and shake my head. If there was one thing I knew how to do, it was handle men. Like I said, I could write a book when it came to them.

I also should have remembered that Julio was starting here. I heard that he had to finish some high school credits or what not before he could start, but he never really crossed my mind enough to really listen or care.

Now, I wish I did.

I look at my watch and I notice the time. I curse a little and look up to Mia and Aiden. "I have to meet Kayla, something to do with homework. Cafe' tonight at ten?" Mia nods her head and I walk past them, heading to the dorm I shared with Kayla.

I look over one more time to see Aiden grab Mia's hands again and blow on them. She laughs and he smiles at her, not letting her move her hands away even though she tries.

I bring my eyes back to the sidewalk and continue on my way. I don't even bother to look back, knowing what I would see.

The one thing I was never going to get.

Love might have been real for them, but for me, it was nothing but a fairytale.

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